Minor Illness

Get the Right Treatment

Every year, millions of us visit our GP with minor health problems that can be easily resolved without a doctor's appointment.

It is estimated that every year, 50 million visits to the GP are made for minor ailments such as coughs and colds, mild eczema, and athlete's foot. By visiting your pharmacy instead, you could save yourself time and trouble.

Self-care

Keeping a well stocked medicine cabinet at home can help you treat many minor ailments. Colds, coughs, indigestion and many other minor complaints can all be treated with medicines that are available over the counter.

Your pharmacist can advise on what you might find useful to keep in your medicine cabinet. Always follow the instructions on the medicine label and consult your doctor if the illness continues or becomes more severe.

Antibiotics

Firstly a note on these commonly prescribed and powerful medicines. They only work on bacteria and are without effect on viruses. Unfortunately, this means that common infections like coughs, colds and flu will not be helped by them. The correct treatments are the simple remedies outlined below and we only use antibiotics when we suspect that there is a secondary bacterial infection. Overuse of antibiotics may be inappropriate, with complications like thrush, skin rashes, allergic reactions and diarrhoea.

Your Local Pharmacist

Pharmacists offer professional free health advice at any time - you don't need an appointment. From coughs and colds to aches and pains, they can give you expert help on everyday illnesses. They can answer questions about prescribed and over-the-counter medicines. Your local Pharmacist can also advise on healthy eating. 

Pharmacists can also advise on health eating, obesity and giving up smoking. Some pharmacists have private areas where you can talk in confidence. They may suggest you visit your GP for more serious symptoms. It is possible to purchase many medicines from the chemist without a prescription.  Watch this short video on how you can get the most out of your local pharmacy

NHS Walk-In Centres

NHS Walk-In Centres offer convenient access to a range of NHS services for patients based in England only. You can receive treatment for many ailments including:

• infection and rashes,
• fractures and lacerations,
• emergency contraception and advice,
• stomach upsets,
• cuts and bruises, or
• burns and strains.

NHS Walk In Centres treat around 3m patients a year and have proved to be a successful complementary service to traditional GP and A&E services. Some centres offer access to doctors as well as nurses. However, they are not designed for treating long-term conditions or immediately life-threatening problems.

Accident & Emergency (A&E)

Major A&E departments assess and treat patients who have serious injuries or illnesses. Generally, you should visit A&E or call 999 for emergencies, such as:

• loss of consciousness,
• pain that is not relieved by simple analgesia,
• acute confused state,
• persistent, severe chest pain, or
• breathing difficulties.

If you're injured or seriously ill, you should go, or be taken, to A&E. If an ambulance is needed you can call 999, the emergency phone number in the UK. You can also dial 112, which is the equivalent for the European Union.

Major A&E departments offer access 365 days a year and usually open 24 hours a day. Be aware that not all hospitals have an A&E department.

Burns

Apply large quantities of cold water to the affected area as soon as possible, and maintain this until the pain subsides. This may take as long as 15 minutes. If the skin is unbroken but blistered, apply a loose, dry dressing. If the burn is larger than four or five inches in diameter, or the skin is broken, arrange to attend the Treatment Room as soon as possible.

Insect Bites and Stings

Antihistamine tablets can be obtained from the Chemist without prescription and will usually relieve most symptoms. Bee stings should be scraped away rather than ‘plucked’ in order to avoid squeezing the contents of the venom sac into the wound.

Minor Cuts and Grazes

Wash the wound thoroughly with water to which you can add a little salt. To stop bleeding, apply a clean dressing or handkerchief firmly to the wound for 5 minutes. Cover with a clear dry dressing to discourage infection.

Nose bleeds

Sit in a chair, leaning forward with your mouth open, and pinch the soft part of the nose just below the bone for 10 minutes. This should stop the bleeding. If symptoms persist, consult the surgery or Casualty out of hours.

Sprains

First, apply a cold compress, containing ice if possible, for up to 30 minutes to reduce the swelling. Apply a firm crepe bandage, elevate and give the affected part plenty of rest until all discomfort subsides. Further strain will inevitably lead to more damage and a longer recovery.

Sunburn

Treat as for other burns with cold water to remove the heat. Calamine lotion will relieve the irritation and Paracetamol will also help. Great care should be taken to avoid over-exposure to the sun, especially the children.

First Aid - MP3 Downloads

To save them on your computer, right-click on any of the links below and then click 'Save Target As..." .  Click on any of the links below to play the audio files: 

Burns - Explains the immediate treatment for burns and scalds.

Fits  - How to deal with fits (convulsions/seizures) in adults and young children.

Wounds   - Immediate actions for wounds, bleeding, and bleeding associated with fractures.

Unconscious patient who is breathing - How to deal with an unrousable patient who IS breathing (includes recovery position)

CPR for adults -  Adults who have collapsed, unrousable and NOT breathing.

CPR for babies - Babies who are unrousable and NOT breathing.

Collapsed patient in detail -  Explains the complete scenario including checks for breathing, circulation, etc.

These files have been prepared by Sussex Ambulance Service and comply with European Resuscitation Council Guidelines.

Other Links

British Red Cross - First Aid Tips
Simple, straightforward and easy to understand first aid tips

St Johns Ambulance
St John Ambulance believes that everyone should learn at least the basic first aid techniques.

These links all come from trusted resources but if you are unsure about these or any other medical matters please contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Coughs & Colds

A cold is a mild viral infection of the nose, throat, sinuses and upper airways. It can cause nasal stuffiness, a runny nose, sneezing, a sore throat and a cough. Usually it's a self-limiting infection – this means it gets better by itself without the need for treatment.

On average, adults have two to five colds each year and school-age children can have up to eight colds a year. Adults who come into contact with children tend to get more colds. This is because children usually carry more of the virus, for longer.

In the UK, you’re more likely to get a cold during the winter months although the reasons why aren’t fully understood at present.

Treatment of a cold

For most people, a cold will get better on its own within a week of the symptoms starting without any specific treatment. However, there are treatments that can help to ease your symptoms and make you feel more comfortable. These are available from your pharmacy, which means that you can treat yourself, rather than needing to see your GP.

There is no cure for colds. Antibiotics, which treat infections caused by bacteria, don't work on cold viruses.

Self-help

There are a number of self-help measures that may help to ease the symptoms of a cold.

• Drinking enough fluids to prevent dehydration.
• Steam inhalations with menthol, salt water nasal sprays or drops may be helpful.
• Vapour rubs may help relieve symptoms for children.
• Hot drinks (particularly with lemon), hot soups and spicy foods can help to ease irritation and pain in your throat.
• Sucking sweets or lozenges which contain menthol or eucalyptus may sooth your throat.
• Gargling with salt water may help a sore throat.

You should try to make sure you get enough rest if you have a cold. It’s not usually necessary to stay off work or school.

Colds & Flu
A factsheet on the causes, symptoms, treatment & prevention of colds & the flu

NHS Choices - is it the common cold or the flu?
Colds and flu can share some of the same symptoms (sneezing, coughing, sore throat) but are caused by different viruses, and flu can be much more serious. Find out

Factsheet - Common Cold
Information about the diagnosis, treatment and symptoms of the common cold

This is extremely common and is often related to our inactive lifestyles and poor posture. Treat your back pain as quickly as possible with painkillers such as Ibuprofen and/or Paracetamol or the stronger

Co-codamol. These painkillers are all available over-the-counter at a Pharmacy. Do not go to bed. Try to keep moving and take painkillers regularly until the pain subsides.

It is common to take up to 6 weeks for back pain to resolve. If your pain is particularly severe or long lasting, it is advisable to see your Doctor.

These creatures prefer clear hair and are not a sign of poor hygiene. Medicated head lotion can be obtained from the Chemist without prescription

On the first day a rash appears as small reds spots about 3mm across. Within a few hours of these developing, small blisters appear in the centre of these patches. During the next three or four days further spots will appear, and the earlier ones turn ‘crusty’ and fall off. Oily calamine lotion may be applied to soothe itching, and cool baths also help. Paracetamol and/or Ibuprofen can help if a fever is present.

The most infectious period is three days before the rash appears until seven days after this date. Children may return to school after the last ‘crusts’ have dropped off.

For public health reasons you should inform the Practice if your child has chicken pox.

A child will develop a fever because of an infection. Usual the child will get over such an infection without the need for antibiotics. Most childhood infections are caused by viruses and these do not respond to antibiotics. The following advice will help to bring your child’s temperature down and make him/her feel better.

1. Always keep a supply of Paracetamol syrup (Calpol/Disprol) and/or Ibuprofen (Nurofen) at home. If you wait until you need it, there will be none at hand.

2. If your child feels hot or appears unwell:

a) Give the maximum dose of Paracetamol and/or Ibuprofen stated for a child of that age.

b) Dress your child in cool clothes. A lot of heat is lost through a child’s head, so leave it uncovered. Cool down the room by opening doors and windows.

c) Give your child plenty of cool drinks as fluid is lost with a fever. If he/she is reluctant to drink, encourage small amounts from a favourite cup.

d) Sponging your child with a tepid flannel will make him/her feel better was well as brining their temperature down. Using tepid water is more effective than using cold water.

e) Repeat the dose of Paracetamol and/or Ibuprofen every four hours as necessary, up to the maximum daily dose stated.

f) A child with a fever is likely to be restless at night. Offer cool drinks and sponge them down if they wake.

g) If your child does not improve after giving Paracetamol and/or Ibuprofen and sponging, or appears particularly ill, call the Health Centre of NHS 24.

Very rarely a child under five years will have a convulsion with a high temperature. They will shake all over and become very still. It usually subsides in less than five minutes. Lie the child on his/her side and stay with them while it lasts. If there is another adult in the house, ask them to phone for help. If not, call when the convulsion has passed.

If you develop toothache or a dental abscess, please contact your dentist for advice and not your Doctor.

GENERAL DENTAL PRACTICE

NHS Borders

Telephone No: 01573 227972

All appointments can be made by calling at dental reception or by telephone during opening hours.

Opening hours – 8.30 am to 4.30 pm

Patients may find the undernoted NHS Direct website a useful source of information – www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk